The facial rejuvenation centre

The Facial Rejuvenation Centre Surgery
Anesthesia Operating Room Suite
Deirdre Leake, M.D.
BEFORE AND AFTER SURGERY INSTRUCTIONS
FACELIFT, MINI FACELIFT
Rhytidectomy (rye-tidd-ec-toe-me – the technical term for facelift) can affect one’s appearance as dramatically as any facial cosmetic surgery. Rhytidectomy is a safe, effective procedure performed to restore a more youthful appearance and less fatigued look while maintaining or improving function. Once thought a beauty procedure sought by only wealthy women, men and women in today’s competitive corporate workplace are increasingly seeking facelift procedures to restore a younger look that more typifies their energy level.
BEFORE SURGERY
At your preoperative appointment our nurse will provide all the instructions for you to follow before and after surgery. We will call the
day before to confirm your time to arrive for surgery. A facelift takes about three to five hours depending on the structure and amount of
tissue prior to surgery. If you are having a combination of procedures, your surgery will take longer. Recovery time takes about an hour
and we will call your ride about half an hour before you are ready to go.
PREOPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS
1. Please avoid any aspirin, aspirin-containing products, or ibuprofen (Advil, Aleve, etc.) for one week prior to and two weeks following your surgery. See our “Medication List” for products to avoid prior to surgery. If you are on any medications that affect bleeding (such as coumadin or warfarin) please notify the office immediately. 2. Please refrain from tobacco products and alcohol for two weeks prior and three weeks following surgery. Along with delayed would healing, persistent skin redness and other complications may persist when tobacco and alcohol are not discontinued. 3. Please notify us of all routine medications and significant health history. We ask that you remain on your daily medications unless instructed otherwise. At the preoperative appointment, our nurse will tell you which daily medications to take the morning of surgery. 4. At your preoperative appointment you will be given prescriptions for use before and after surgery including an oral antibiotic and pain medications. Please obtain these prescription medications before your surgery and bring them with you the day of surgery. 5. We will ask you to take Arnica, a natural herb that significantly decreases bruising, before and after surgery. We will also ask you to take 1500 mg of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), which helps promote healing, before and after surgery. 6. You may not eat or drink after midnight the evening before the procedure unless instructed otherwise. You may brush your teeth. Your procedure will be cancelled if you do not follow these instructions. 7. Remove all make-up and nail polish before arriving for your procedure. 8. It is not required that a family member or friend stay at the Centre during your surgery, we will need a number where they can be reached when you are ready to leave. Someone will need to drive you home after your surgery and stay with you that evening. Transportation to the office the day following surgery is also required.
AFTER SURGERY
As you become more aware after surgery you will notice a soft, bulky head wrap dressing. Prior to leaving we will manage any
discomfort you may be experiencing and give instructions to the person who will be caring for you.
POSTOPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS

First 24 hours
Reduce activity to decrease chance of bleeding or wound opening, swelling and nausea. You may get out of bed to use the bathroom.
Next Day After Surgery
You will be asked to come to our office the following day for dressing change. 1750 Tree Blvd., Suite 10, St. Augustine, FL 32084 904.810.543
Wound Care
Keep dressing dry and intact the evening after surgery. Notify your doctor if the dressings become loose or fall off.
Following dressing removal the morning after surgery, Dr. Leake will clean the suture areas and rewrap. We will again instruct you on
suture care. Cleaning the suture with a Q-tip dipped in hydrogen peroxide and then applying the antibiotic ointment
(polysporin/bacitracin) twice a day is an essential part of the healing process. Sutures that have been kept lubricated with ointment are
less painful to remove. Keep dressing in place at all times other than suture care.
Medications
Most patients complain of discomfort more than pain. Use pain medication as directed/needed. Do not drive or drink alcohol while taking pain medication. Taking pain medication with food helps minimize nausea sometimes associated with pain medications. Start your antibiotic the morning of surgery. Take Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) that helps promote healing, for two weeks following surgery. Take Arnica, a natural herb that significantly decreases bruising for 3 days following surgery.
Bleeding
A small amount of bleeding on the dressing is normal. If you have persistent bleeding relax and reduce activity. If bleeding persists call
our office (904)810-5434, or call Dr. Leake on her cell phone which will be provided day of surgery.
Healing Care
Rest (both physical and mental) and adequate nutrition are important factors in healing, so eat well and take it easy for a few weeks. Numbness, tingling, swelling, itching, discoloration, bumpiness, hardness, crusting, tightness and redness around the incisions are normal and should go away with full healing. Avoid sun exposure as much as possible for three months, as it can cause swelling or an uneven change in pigmentation. Wear a hat and sunblock (UVA and UVB block). Full healing takes two to three months.
Diet
Advance diet from liquids to soft food (oatmeal, French Toast, yogurt, soup, pasta, baked potato) to your regular diet as tolerated.
Activity
Rest for entire day of surgery. Sleep with head of the bed elevated or use two to three pillows for one week after surgery. Absolutely no
bending, lifting or straining. If you have little children, bend at the knees or sit on the floor and let them climb on to your lap. No driving
for one week following surgery. Two weeks off work is recommended.
For the first 48 hours, keep incisions dry except for cleaning and ointment. Bathing is ok as long as you don’t get your incisions/hair wet.
You are encouraged to shower after 48 hours and wash your hair especially: the evening before and the morning of suture removal
(usually post-op six or seven days).
After suture removal, steri-strips, which must remain dry and in place for four days, are applied. Bruising can be camouflaged at one
week postoperatively with make-up. Always protect your face from the sun. At this point, a hat and sunglasses are a good idea.
Following surgery, our staff will tell you when it is ok to apply sunscreen, cosmetics or facial creams. Avoid unprotected prolonged sun
exposure for three months following facelift surgery to prevent pigmentation of incision lines.
Please notify the office 810-5434 and ask for our nurse for any concerns. For an emergency after normal business hours, please
call Dr. Leake on her cell phone. That number will be provided to you day of surgery along with additional instructions on
medication.

Please Remember!
Swelling, bruising and disrupted sleep are very normal postoperative symptoms and will decrease as the healing process occurs.
Assistance with daily activities the first two to three days after surgery is strongly recommended.
Final Result
Following facelift surgery it takes time for the swelling to subside and for the skin to heal. Most patients return to work two weeks
following surgery, however three weeks is ideal, depending on the degree of privacy one is trying to maintain. At three weeks
postoperatively, swelling and bruising may be apparent to you but not to many of your coworkers and closest friends.
1750 Tree Blvd., Suite 10, St. Augustine, FL 32084 904.810.543

Source: http://www.frcentre.com/forms/Facelift_post_op_instructions-operating_room_suite.pdf